Sen. Franken probes Accretive Health collection practices

Minnesota Sen. Al Franken holds a field hearing examining the collection practices of Accretive Health. Minn. AG Lori Swanson is investigating the company after reviving complaints from patients who say they were asked to pay medical bills while in a care facility.

Daily Circuit: “Interim CEO of Fairview Health Services Charles Mooty along with a top executive of a debt collection agency that has come under fire in Minnesota will be among those testifying at a congressional committee in St. Paul Wednesday morning. The hearing is chaired by Sen. Al Franken.”

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I was quite impressed with professor Goodwin’s testimony today. There was one zinger that she threw out there that’s hard to ignore: “We know there has been a history in this country where African Americans have literally died on the steps of hospitals.” One case I thought of was of a young African American named Maltheus Avery. Quoting from the Carolina Times from December 9th, 1950: ‎”When Avery arrived at Duke he was refused admittance, hospital officials say, because there was no bed space available. They stated that only a small space is allotted Negroes.” I’m pleased to hear Senator Franken is going to pursue his inquiry further into hospital collection practices. There are today more subtle ways to effectively deny treatment: make the patient feel shamed and uncomfortable such that they leave and don’t return. The economically disadvantaged become largely those who are discriminated against, and the results of that discrimination can become for some individuals just as deadly as during the time professor Goodwin refers to.